Rising Soccer Participation in Fort Worth's Northside
The Diamond Hill Northside Youth Association has witnessed a 100 percent increase in youth soccer participation over the past year, a surge that leaders attribute to the excitement generated by the recent World Cup matches hosted in North Texas.
Executive Director Roxanne Martinez explained that the organization added soccer to its programming after the last World Cup and has since waived 75 percent of registration fees, allowing most children to play at no cost. The program serves kids from ages 4 to 18 across the Northside community.
Martinez noted that the heightened interest in soccer, especially in a city that will host more World Cup matches than any other U.S. location, has driven families to enroll their children. The association is now appealing for additional volunteer coaches to keep up with the growing demand.